By MATT PIKE
No. 8 Bearcats grab share of MIAA title with rivalry win over MoWest
The No. 8 Northwest Missouri State University football team marched into St. Joseph and spoiled Missouri Western State University's Senior Day with a 45-13 win, earning the program's 33rd MIAA regular season championship at Spratt Memorial Stadium
The win, which was the fifth straight for the Bearcats, along with an Emporia State loss at Washburn ensured Northwest would earn at least a share of the MIAA regular season title. With a win next week, against Pittsburg State at Sporting Park, the Bearcats would hold the title outright, one year after splitting it with the Gorillas after falling at Sporting Park to Pittsburg State 27-14.
Northwest opened the scoring in the first quarter with two touchdowns on the ground, the first from Quincy Torry, who broke a 68 yard run to set up a two yard touchdown run. Michael Harrison intercepted MoWest quarterback Isaiah Tate on the ensuing drive, and the Bearcats capatalized on the takeaway Torry breaking another long run for 55-yard run, setting up Te'Shaun Porter to bang in a six yard touchdown run, giving Northwest a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Griffons made it a one possession game in the second quarter after a missed 45-yard field goal attempt from Mo Alwaely, Tate throwing a 56 yard touchdown pass to Victor Taylor Jr. But, the Bearcats defense answered on the following series, after Mayes Doggan intercepted Zechariah Owens, as Trent Warner sacked Tate, knocking him out of the game, setting up Kaden Lutjen-Williams interception on backup Skyler Cassel, putting Northwest into position to drive and score on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Owens to Trevor Spady, putting the Bearcats up 21-7 at the halftime break.
On the first offensive snap of the second half, Torry found the endzone again, breaking off a 75 yard run for a touchdown to extend the Northwest lead. After a MoWest punt, Torry scored again from 10 yards out for his third touchdown of the game to push the Bearcats lead to 35-7 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Alwaely made a 38-yard field goal, and after Devin Wilson's fourth-down sack gave Northwest the ball back Jaron Cannon broke a 51-yard touchdown run to cap the Bearcats scoring. Trailing 45-7, Cassel threw a 18 yard touchdown pass to Mickhi Mitchell with no time left on the clock for MoWest ending the game.
For Northwest, Owens was 10-of-19 for 110 yards with one touchdown and one interception through the air, adding four rushes for 15 yards. Torry ran 12 times for 252 yards, the eighth-best single-game rushing mark in program history, with three touchdowns. Porter added seven rushes for 89 yards and a score while Cannon ran eight times for 61 yards and a touchdown. Spady had four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
MoWest saw Tate go 11-of-19 for 168 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding 13 runs for 11 yards, while Cassel was 11-of-23 for 121 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Rickie Dunn ran 12 times for 27 yards. Taylor Jr. had two catches for 69 yards and a touchdown while Malik Moore had six catches for 67 yards.
Northwest (8-1, 7-1 MIAA) will close out the regular season against Pittsburg State (4-6, 4-4 MIAA) at Sporting Park on Saturday. Kickof is at 1:30pm. MoWest (3-7, 2-6 MIAA) will travel to face Central Oklahoma (4-6, 3-5 MIAA). Kickoff is at 1pm on Saturday.
No. 3 Ravens shutout Missouri Baptist clinching Heart South title
The No. 3 Benedictine Raven football team locked up a Heart South Title with a 48-0 shutout win over Missouri Baptist University at Spartan Field, closing out a perfect conference slate and a one loss season.
The Ravens matched season highs in both sacks and tackles for a loss, holding the Spartans to just 141 total yards on 60 plays. Four of the six touchdowns on the day for Benedictine came on the ground, starting in the first quarter with runs of two and six yards from Brendan Haisenleder to take a 14-0 lead at the end of the quarter. A 22 yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Patrick Heitert was sandwiched between a pair of field goals from Christian Klobe, from 30 yards and 38 yards, respectively through the second quarter, pushing the Ravens to a 27-0 lead at the halftime break.
The Ravens have held their opponents scoreless over the past two games, and on Saturday, they held the Spartans to just 28 rushing yards, eight total first downs and 13.3% on third down. The first touchdown through the air started off the second half scoring for Benedictine with a one yard touchdown pass from Heitert to Isaiah Hasten in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Cooper Hajek added the final rushing touchdown from one yard out before Trey Herbert III capped the scoring with a 30 yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Braxton Clarke. The Ravens finished with 459 total yards on offense with 294 yards through the air and 165 yards onto the ground.
Heitert was 18-of-24 for 264 yards with one touchdown pass while also rushing six times for 61 yards. Haisenleder ran 17 times for 77 yards with two touchwdowns. Titan Osburn had two catches for 64 yards while Joseph Lagafuaina added two catches for 50 yards. Christian Pitts finished with three catches for 47 yards.
Benedictine now waits for the November 15th and the NAIA Football Championship Series Selection Show to learn their seed and potential opponents in the 2026 FCS.
Penalties, missed opportunies plague No. 18 Tigers against No. 7 Texas
The No. 18 Missouri Tigers could not overcome two missed field goals and some questionable calls, falling to the No. 7 Texas Longhorns 34-20 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.
After forcing a Longhorns punt, the Tigers scored first, converting on fourth down with a two yard touchdown pass from Austin Simmons to Brett Norfleet. Texas answered with a 24 yard pass from Arch Manning to Derrek Cooper tying the game, and on the ensuing drive Missouri saw the first questionable call, appearing to complete a pass along the sideline to Donovan Olugbode, which was called incomplete, even with the receiver appearing to keep his toes inbounds on the catch.
The Tigers were forced to punt, getting the ball back though forcing a Longhorns fumble, but could just manage a 22 yard field goal by Blake Craig, taking a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Missouri again forced a Texas punt, but this time Craig missed a field goal from 38 yards away. After back-to-back punts, Texas tied the game on a 27 yard field goal from Gianni Spetic, leaving the game tied 10-10 at the halftime break.
Craig broke the tie to start the second half, hitting a 48 yard field goal, which the Tigers were forced to kick after another controversial overturned all on a diving catch by Cayden Lee, and Missouri got the ball right back as Texas fumbled the ensuing kickoff. But, Craig again missed a field goal, this time from 46 yards away, leaving Missouri with just a three point lead. The Longhorns answered, tying the game on a 34 yard field goal from Spetic, and just two plays later the Tigers retook the lead on a 72 yard touchdown pass from Simmons to Naeshaun Montgomery.
The weirdest play of the game set Texas up to tie the game, another controversial call, as Manning threw an incomplete pass on third-and-10, only for the officials to rule that a ball thrown 14 yards forward was actually a fumble recovered by the Longhorns for a first down. Replays seemed to confirm that it was indeed a pass, but referee David Smith upheld the original call, allowing the Longhorns to take advantage and tie the game on a 25 yard touchdown pass from Manning to Jermaine Bishop Jr.
The Tigers were unable to score again from there and Texas took the lead in the fourth quarter after a punt on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Manning to Raleek Brown. After a fumble by Lee, the Longhorns put the game away with Brown's legs on an eight yard rushing touchdown. Missouri turned the ball over on downs with no timeouts, allowing Texas to kneel out the remaining time.
Simmons was 23-of-43 for 252 yards with two touchdowns. Jamal Roberts ran 19 times for 66 yards. Montgomery had two catches for 81 yards and a touchdown while Lee hauled in nine catches for 79 yards. Olugbode had three catches for 40 yards.
Missouri (6-3, 3-3 SEC) will travel to face No. 2 Georgia (8-1, 6-1 SEC) on Saturday. Kickoff time is still to be determined but will be at either 11:30am or 2:30pm. Click HERE for updates on kickoff time.
Cowboys show no mercy to Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Stadium
The Kansas State Wildcats could do nothing to slow down the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Bill Snyder Family Stadium as the Cowboys dominated their way to a 66-28 win.
After the Wildcats opened the game with a punt, Oklahoma State scored first with a 32 yard touchdown pass from Drew Mestemaker to Justin Bowick. Kansas State answered to tie the game in three plays on a 73 yard touchdown pass by Blake Barnett to Derrick Salley Jr, on the ensuing drive however the Cowboys retook the lead with a 21 yard run from Caleb Hawkins. Kansas State turned the ball over on downs and Oklahoma State took advantage, scoring in just three plays, again from Hawkins on a 37 yard run.
Oklahoma State took a 28-7 lead near the end of the first quarter, after Quinton Hammonds intercepted Barnett, setting up a three yard touchdown pass from Mestemaker to Morgan McPhaul. Trailing in the second quarter, the Wildcats defense cut into the deficit as Logan Bartley picked off Mestemaker, returning it 18 yards for a touchdown. That however cappped the first half scoring for Kansas State.
Mestemaker rushed for a one yard touchdown and Hawkins added a nine yard rushing score, before Mestemaker threw a 19 yard touchdown strike to Miles Coleman with 11 seconds remaining in the half, sending it to the halftime break with the Wildcats trailing 49-14. After a Cowboys punt to start the second half, Kansas State cut into the lead again as backup quarterback Dillon Duff found Salley through the air again for an 18 yard touchdown pass, cutting the Oklahoma State lead to 49-21.
Mestemaker added two more touchdowns through the air in the third quarter, finding Hawkins for his first receiving touchdown of the day on a five yard pass, and then hitting another five yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Young extending the lead to 63-21 heading into the final quarter. Rodney Fields Jr scored a one yard rushing touchdown to cap the Wildcats scoring on the day, before Sam Keltner hit a 23 yard field goal for Oklahoma State to end the scoring.
Barnett was 7-of-17 for 106 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while adding 10 runs for 23 yards. Duff was 10-of-17 for 94 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Fields Jr ran 20 times for 87 yards and a score. Salley Jr had three catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns while Jaron Tibbs had six catches for 42 yards. Linkon Cure had five catches for 33 yards.
Next, Kansas State (4-5, 1-5 Big 12) travels to play TCU (4-5, 2-4 Big 12). Kickoff time is to be determined. You can click HERE for updates.
Jayhawks rally to take lead in fourth quarter, fall on last second TD
The Kansas Jayhawks stormed back on the UCF Knights, but fell 33-32 when the Knights scored a last second touchdown to win the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
After the Jayhawks were forced to punt on their opening drive, UCF quarterback Alonza Barnett III was intercepted by Trey Lathan, setting up a Kansas one yard touchdown run from quarterback Isaiah Marshall. The Knights answered on the ensuing drive with a 37 yard field goal by Will Stone, before both teams exchanged punts the remainder of the quarter. The Jayhawks led 7-3 at the end of the first, but to start the second frame, UCF took the lead with a 10 yard rushing touchdown from Duane Thomas Jr, however Stone missed the point after, giving the Knights a 9-7 lead.
Kansas was forced to punt on the ensuing drive and the Knights extended their lead with Stone hitting a 23 yard field goal. The next two drives following the touchdown lasted just two plays for both teams, both ending with fumbles, but the Jayhawks were unable to take advantage and UCF ended the half with the ball, the lead though at the halftime break remained 12-7 for UCF after Stone missed a 54 yard field goal attempt with one second left.
The Knights opened the second half with the ball however and did add to their lead there with a one yard rush by Taevion Swint and then scored again, following a Jayhawks fumble, with Barnett throwing a 44 yard touchdown pass to Josh Derry. With UCF leading 26-7, Kansas started their comeback scoring on four consecutive drives. Marshall capped a 10 play drive, starting the rally, with a 30 yard touchdown run that put the Jayhawks down 26-14 at the end of the third quarter.
The Knights punted near the end of the third quarter and Kansas held the ball into the fourth quarter, through a 14 play drive, that again ended with a touchdown as Khijohn Cummings-Coleman ran for a one yard score continuing to narrow the gap. After another UCF punt, Kansas was held to just a 34 yard field goal by Martin Connings, but again the Jayhawks defense forced the Knights to punt and Dylan Edwards plunged Kansas ahead on a two yard touchdown run, with Marshall converting a two point conversion pass to Nik McMillan for a 32-26 lead with 1:01 left in regulation.
UCF went on to use the entire clock, driving 73 yards in 10 plays, with Barnett finding Caden Piening for a six yard touchdown pass and Will Stone knocking through the extra point with zeroes on the clock for a win in the game, spoiling the Jayhawks massive comeback after being down by 19 points
Marshall was 21-of-32 for 252 yards adding 13 rushes for 125 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Cummings-Coleman ran 11 times for 48 yards and a score while Edwards rushed 13 times for 22 yards and a score. Keaton Kubecka had five catches for 71 yards and Cam Pickett added five grabs for 37 yards.
Up next, Kansas (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) travels to play West Virginia (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) in Morgantown, West Virginia. Kickoff time is to be determined. Look for kickoff time updates HERE.
Nebraska drops fourth in a row to Illinois, fires offensive coordinator
The Nebraska Cornhuskers dropped a fourth straight game on Friday, falling to Illinois 24-13 at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, and fired their offensive coordinator following the loss amid their offensive struggles.
After neither team scored in the first quarter, with Nebraska kicker John Hohl missing a 45 yard field goal attempt, the Cornhuskers were the first to find the scoreboard in the second quarter after a punt from the Fighting Illini, Mekhi Nelson scoring on a 15 yard rushing touchdown. Both teams exchanged punts and Illinois was able to answer with a three yard passing touchdown from Katin Houser to Collin Dixon tying the game with 1:47 left in the half.
Again though, Hohl missed a field goal attempt, again from 54 yards out, and the Fightin Illini turned the ball over on downs to end the half with the game tied at 7-7. Illinois opend the second half with a 13 play drive that consumed nearly six and a half minutes of clock, scoring a go ahead touchdown that put them ahead for good on a five yard pass between Houser and Jordan Anderson.
The Cornhuskers turned the ball over on downs and the Fightin Illini took advantage extending the lead in the fourth quarter, Dixon catching his second touchdown of the day six yards from Houser, before Nebraska was able to answer and cut into the lead on a 51 yard touchdown pass from Anthony Colandrea to Jacory Barney Jr. The two point conversion attempt though would fail, and Illinois would kick a field goal 21 yards by Ethan Moczulski, for the 24-13 lead.
The Cornhuskers turned the ball over on downs over their next two possessions, the defense forcing one Illinois punt before the Fightin Illini went on to end the game kneeling out the clock. Following the loss, on Saturday, Nebraska fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, the former head coach at Houston and West Virginia who was in his third season leading the Huskers' offense. Co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas will assume playcalling duties.
"Like so many of you, I am angry, I am disappointed and I am frustrated with our results this season," Head Coach Matt Rhule said. "As the head coach, I am ultimately responsible for every aspect of our program, including wins and losses, and it is my responsibility to make changes when they are warranted. While there are many areas that need improvement, our offensive plan and execution is simply not working. While there are many areas that need improvement, our offensive plan and execution is simply not working."
Colandrea was 32-of-43 for 284 yards with a touchdown through the air adding eight rushes for 27 yards. Jamal Rule ran 15 times for 69 yards to lead the rushers with Isaiah Mozee adding six rushes for 31 yards. Barney Jr had six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Kwazi Gilmer added four grabs for 58 yards and Luke Lindenmeyer had five catches for 34 yards.
Next, Nebraska (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) stays on the road and travels to Piscataway, New Jersey to face Rutgers (2-7, 1-5 Big Ten). Kickoff is at 11:30am with the game airing on the Big Ten Network.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.